Nearly a week has passed since a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, destroying homes and buildings, burying thousands under rubble, and triggering an avalanche on Mt. Everest. Mobilizing quickly, the Nepal government and international aid workers have taken steps to help the millions who have had their homes destroyed by the earthquake. Charity groups from all around the world have undertaken massive search efforts, trying to find survivors. Glimmers of hope appear from time to time when a survivor is found, but it seems that for every survivor found, there are a dozen more bodies uncovered. As of the 28th, the death toll has surpassed 5,500, with thousands more missing or wounded.

Even 5 days after the earthquake, aftershocks are still shaking the country, the biggest being a 6.7 on the Richtor scale. It has been estimated that there have been as many as 70 aftershocks since the original earthquake. These aftershocks have left the people on edge, making many too frightened to return to their homes, as they’re likely to collapse in the aftershocks to come. The survivors have taken to pitching tents in one of the 16 camps across Katmandu, or simply in the streets away from buildings.

While support has poured in from around the world, survivors of the earthquake claim that aid has not reached them or is arriving too late to be much help. The people of Nepal are growing frustrated with these actions, accusing their government of neglect, incompetence, and even corruption.

“I don’t think the government is doing anything,” Sudesh Tulachan, a survivor of the earthquake, says. “Only this tent was provided by the government, but for everything else, we have had to rely on our own labors. You can see how many humans are in need.” Sudesh lives in a rural area of Nepal, where aid is not readily available. Rural areas like this have also suffered massive landslides, making their need for food, water, and basic medical supplies even greater.

The earthquake also caused an avalanche on Mt. Everest that covered the base camp, killing 17 people, with some still missing. The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.

This earthquake has devastated the country of Nepal, leaving countless survivors without food, water, or basic medical supplies. Hospitals are overflowing and organizations are scrambling to bring relief to people of Nepal. If you are interested in donating, organizations such as Red Cross (redcross.org), UNICEF (unicef.org), and the Mercy Corps (mercycorps.org) accept donations that go towards helping those in need.Climbers at the higher elevations were unable to descend the mountain, due to the snow and rocks that have tumbled down the mountain in the aftershocks. Helicopters were sent up to the mountain immediately, as the climbers at higher altitudes would soon run out of oxygen. It was estimated that there were 200 climbers in the upper altitudes of the mountain and, as of the 28th, around 100 of them had been rescued.